ITOCHU Corporation is engaged in activities that contribute to the local community in Minato City, the location of its Tokyo headquarters. In the spirit of ITOCHU’s founding corporate philosophy of “Sampo-yoshi (good for the seller, good for the buyer, and good for society),” we are contributing to the community (good for society).
Art Exhibition on the First Floor of the Tokyo Head Office
ITOCHU Corporation started displaying art by people with disabilities on the first floor of its Tokyo Head Office in April 2023.
In conjunction with World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, we began by displaying paintings by autistic people, and we have subsequently been displaying paintings by all types of people with disabilities. The supervision is Nijiiro no Kaze, a non-profit organization operating in Minato City. This initiative, which supports the social involvement of people with disabilities through art, is in line with the SDGs principle “leave no one behind.” Consistent with our philosophy, we are contributing to the “Community Contribution” and “Growth of Future Generations” elements of our Basic Activity Guidelines on Social Contribution.
Students Visited ITOCHU Corporation for Site Visit
The Tokyo Head Office hosts an out-of-classroom learning experience for third graders from Aoyama Elementary School. From the top floor, the students viewed their Minato City home from all directions and heard an explanation of the company by an ITOCHU employee. The students listened intently to stories about overseas assignments and engaged in a lively question and answer session. They also learned about the work of the staff who support ITOCHU in areas such as reception, security, the Palace Hotel, and cleaning, and observed them at work.
Students touring in the north side
Window cleaning by gondola
Vocational Lectures
Employees giving a lecture in a classroom
In November 2023, we held a vocational lecture at Aoyama Elementary School as part of career education for 6th graders. Based on the theme of “What is it like to work?”, we explained about ITOCHU’s business activities and the concept of meaningful work at ITOCHU.
Collection of Unneeded Notebooks for Donation
In October 2023, an “unneeded notebook collection box” was placed at the employee entrance of the Tokyo Head Office to collect unneeded notebooks for a recycling project by third-grade students at Aoyama Elementary School.
The children, who had been unable to play outside due to the excessive heat this year, investigated the causes of the rise in temperature and learned about global warming, realizing that the way they live is deeply related to global warming. They then decided to engage in a project to collect unneeded notebooks and recycle them into new notebooks as a practical example of making a difference with the involvement of those around them. After about a month of setting up the collection boxes, ITOCHU collected 310 notebooks and approximately 500 loose-leaf notebooks.
Collection box at the employee entrance
Part of the collected unneeded notebooks
Thank you letters from students
Held a Special Class on Mangrove and Ocean Plastic Recycling
In FYE 2022, ITOCHU Cooperation started a mangrove planting initiative with Uken Village on Amami Oshima Island, a World Natural Heritage site.
In May 2022, we held a special class on “mangrove and ocean plastic recycling” for all students of Aoyama Elementary School.
We donated plastic pots made from ocean plastic waste that washed ashore in Tsushima City, Nagasaki Prefecture, and explained its problem-solving recycling economy business for students. After the special class, about 300 seedlings were planted, one for each student in all grades.
Through environmental conservation education, we believe that this project will contribute to the affluent and sound development of young people in the local community who will lead the next generation.
A special class for all students
Ocean plastic recycling pots
Mangrove Ex-Situ Conservation Project
In FYE 2023, as one of an activity with Uken Village on Amami Oshima Island to conserve mangroves outside their native habitat, approximately 250 students of Aoyama Elementary School grew seedlings from seeds and donated them to the National Museum of Nature and Science at Tsukuba Botanical Garden.
The mangrove seedlings were grown in plastic pots derived from marine plastic waste handled by ITOCHU.
Planting seedlings.
Seedlings donated to the National Museum of Nature and Science
Three-site Workshop at ITOCHU SDGs STUDIO
In September 2022, an online workshop was held at the ITOCHU SDGs STUDIO for elementary school students from Tokyo, Shiga Prefecture, and the United Kingdom to present and exchange their SDG-related initiatives. Elementary school students from Aoyama Elementary School in Tokyo, Toyosato Elementary School in Shiga Prefecture, and Hazelwood School in UK participated in the workshop and gave presentations on which of the 17 SDGs they are working on and the activities they are undertaking based on the theme of "Our Passion for the SDGs.” The workshop was broadcast on the radio station J-WAVE (81.3FM) and is now available on YouTube.
Vocational Lecture at Aoyama Junior High School
Students listening to an employee’s explanation
ITOCHU Corporation collaborates with the annual vocational lectures held at Aoyama Junior High School as part of the career education program for first-year students. Six companies and organizations in Minato City participated in the program in FYE 2025, presenting on their work activities and providing opportunities for students to deepen their understanding of careers and to think about their career choices.
Providing Workplace Learning Experience for Aoyama Special Needs School
Since FYE 2023, ITOCHU Corporation has proved workplace learning experiences for students from Aoyama Special Needs School. ITOCHU’s comprehensive workplace learning program is designed to motivate and prepare students for their transition into future employment and self-sufficiency. The students learned new skills and built confidence through actual work-related tasks such as cleaning and sterilizing desks and chairs in the lobby on the first floor and conference rooms on the tenth floor.
This initiative is the first step for students who need special support to connect with their communities and play an active role in society. ITOCHU Corporation supports this initiative and will continue its community-based social contribution activities going forward.
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